Socket for lamps, &amp;c.



E. G. EVERETT. SOCKET FOR LAMPS, 6w. APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1912.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

v 6 W (O? llllllllllllifi jz z ormga U TTED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST c. EVERETT, 0E NEW YORK, N..Y., ASSIGNOLR. To B. E. DIETZ COMPANY, 0E NEW YORK, n. Y.

sooKET FOR LAMPS, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. EVERETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sockets for Lamps, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sockets which are used on lamps and other articles for securing the same to a post, standard, or other upright support.

Automobile headlights or lamps are often supported on bifurcated brackets or standards which straddle the lamp and engage with their two arms in sockets secured to opposite sides of the lamp casing. The distance between the two arms of the support often differs in different supports and it is often difiicult to fit the lamp to the bracket without distorting the lamp case or bending the arms of the support to fit the distance between the sockets, and such bending of the arms is difficult because the brackets or supports are usually a forging which is not easily bent.

The object of this invention is to produce a simple and cheap socket which possesses such a degree of adjustability that the arms.

of the support can be readily engaged in the two sockets of a lamp under the usual varia tions which occur in the distance between the arms.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an automobile headlight provided with these improved sockets. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the socket, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 4c is a vertical section on line 44, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an outside elevation of the inner plate of the socket. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 9 is an outside elevation of a modified construction of the inner plate. Fig. 10 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 9.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the casing of a headlight or lamp, B B the sockets secured to opposite sides thereof, and C the bifurcated support or bracket with which saidsockets are engaged for supporting the headlight.

Each socket comprises an attaching plate D which is arranged on the inner side of the lamp casing and provided with an up right series of horizontal bearing lugs 03, preferably three, which project outwardly through openings in the lamp casing. The socket comprises further an outer plate E which is arranged on the outer side of the lamp casing and )rovided with a yielding jaw F which is united at one side or end to the plate E, preferably by forming the jaw in one piece with the plate, and which is free at the opposite end and movable toward and from the side of the lamp casing by springing or bending the jaw.

The jaw F is provided with a bight or bent portion f opposite the bearing lugs 03, which bight grasps the outer side of the arm of the bracket and presses the same against these lugs, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The flexible jaw is tightened against the arm of the bracket by a screw-bolt g which passes through the free end of the flexible jaw and into a threaded opening in the inner plate D. i

The outer plate E comprises an upright or base portion 6 with which the flexible jaw is united, and upper and lower horizontal arms or portions 6 6 which are arranged above and below the jaw and extend lengthwise thereof from the fixed end of the movable jaw toward the free end. These members of the outer plate are secured to the lamp casing A by rivets or bolts h which also serve to secure the inner plate D to the casing.

The clamping lugs 01 are preferably provided with V-shaped faces 2' for engagement with the arm of the bracket or support.

If desired, a single clamping lug 7c, Figs. 9 and 10, may be substituted for the several clamping lugs d, in which case a single opening is provided in the lamp casing through which the lug projects.

The outer plate and its flexible jaw are preferably made of flexible or elastic sheet metal, for instance, brass, and the inner plate may be made of sheet or cast metal.

This improved socket comprises a fixed jaw whichis secured to the lamp casing or other article to be supported, and a flexible jaw which is provided at one end with an attaching plate or member which is secured to the lamp casing or other article, said flexible jaw being provided at its free end with a set screw for tightening the "jaws against the prop or other support which is arranged between the jaws.

The inner or rear attaching plate which is secured to the lamp casing, preferably on the inner side thereof, and provided with the outwardly projecting bearing or gripping lug or lugs constitutes the fixed jaw of the socket and forms a firm foundation for the socket on the lamp casing and prevents the latter, which is usually constructed of sheet metal, from being bent or distorted under the strains to which the casing is subjected by the jarring of the lamp when the vehicle is in motion. The rigidity of the attachment is increased by the outer plate which supports the movable jaw and extends along three sides of the inner attaching plate and is secured thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a supporting socket, the combination of a fixed jaw provided with an inner attaching plate which is secured to the article to be supported, and a movable jaw which is united atone end to an outer attaching plate which overlies said inner attaching plate and is secured to the article to be supported and to said inner plate, said movable jaw being provided at its opposite free end with tightening means, substantially as set forth.

2. In a supporting socket, the combination of a fixed jaw provided with an inner attaching plate which is secured to the article to be supported, and a movable jaw which is united at one end to an outer attaching plate which overlies said inner attaching plate and is secured to the article to be supported, said movable jaw being provided with a bight and said fixed jaw with a gripping projection opposite said bight, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a. lamp casing, of a supporting socket comprising a fixed jaw having an attaching plate secured to the inner side of said casing and a gripping projection extending outwardly through said casing, and a movable jaw united at one end to an outer attaching plate which overlies the plate of said fixed jaw and is secured to said casing, and a tightening screw which passes through the free end of said movable jaw and into the plate of said fixed jaw, substantially as set forth.

4. In a supporting socket, the combination with a fixed jaw adapted to be secured to the article to be supported, of a flexible jaw united at one end to an attaching plate which is composed of a base portion to which said flexible jaw is united and arms which extend from said base portion lengthwise of said flexible jaw at opposite'sides of the same, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST C. EVERETT.

Witnesses:

T. W. VAN DWYN, H. L. FLETCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

